Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1887-02-16
THIRD EDITION.
me Giles Case.

C0u resumed prOceeuineo ~
o'clock this morning. Immediately aiter /
The opening, the Chief Justice stated after .
mature deIibe alton the Court had de- .
.Ided that this was q case that should be .
unlimited to the jury, aud that therefore 4
the motion for non-suit was denied. 10
Mr.. Bird stated to the Court, that as IL
was probable the present case would not 1
be completed until Friday, he thought It
would be we'll to discharge the special I
Jury, and also the witnesses In the Gos !
sam case against the came company until
next Monday morning. IL
The Court, after consultation replied :
that as it was their intention not to allow
more than three or four witness to be ex
amined on the same point, they thought
this case could be finished in time to
Stake up the Gossam case on Friday, ana
the special jurers and witnesses were dis
charged until that time.
MT. Lore then opened the case fcr tne
defense, and in his address 10 the Jury
exhibited map OF the locality where
this building was erected, pan OF tne
vail erected by the Diamond State Iron
Company, and model OF . section OF
one of the pilasters, showing Its breadth
and thickness. He said that he would
show that In each plaster there was an
Iron bolt running down three feet and
fastened in Q plate. Tho same precau
tiop WINS obst rved 10 the spaces be-
tween the pilasters where the wall was
hut Q inches thick, and bolts were also
inserted In this wall TO make 1t secure
He said that he would shoT that the
trusses, W hich were put on this wall by
the Messrs, Feaster, the riegers,
weighed from 5000 to $500 pounds
each. and that while these heavy trusset
were being put IN place there was not
the sligl tsst vibration, and that the
wall was % strong and GOOD as any
they had ever worked on.
The day previous to the accident the
wall was perfectly straight sDd plumb,
and as good Q wall as was ever ouiit.
On the day the wal fell there was
sudden storm accompanied by heavy
wind. and several men who were ut
work al the Kennebsc ice house, in the
vicinity. started to leave that building
for fear 1t would blow down, and did
run from 1t as coon as this wall fell. lie
said that he would show the effect CT
this wind ut the West Yard, q mile dis
tant. and that this building was direct
ly In the track OF the storm, and thai
men in the main building of the mill
ran from their work on its approach
He also said that he would bring VT
nesses 20 show that Immediately 2'tel
the accident this company ministereC
to the plaintiff By giving him mcrey
aud told his physicians to do everything
In their power for him and ssnd thei
bill TO them.
They continued to look after his wei
fare, and furnish him with money, un
iii some one pat the idea in his mini
that he could recover $40. coo damages
when he refused to accept anythin
further at their hands and brought thi
case In Court. The examination OF vii
nesses was then commenced.
Henry Mendenhsll was sworn, an
testified that be Is the president OF Ia
Diamond State iron Company. Whe
the company decided to euild an add
ticn to their Old Ferry rolling mill, i
1855, the plans were made BY the
sunerir tendent, Nj, John Z Davi
who is a PRACTICAL drsuehtsmau, ae we
as an experienced iron worker L
made the plans in the rough. sft
which they were given to Mr.. Jone
their draue htsman, with instructions
draw the plans. They coue.uc ed
erect brick wall on Heaio street, i
stead OF using boards, 90 lie thu Genel
custom In structures OF this AiEd.
Another object thay had in erectlr
brick wall, was the fact that OF the {
poslte eide of the street there w
several frame buildings, ore OF VIII
wasak irdling wood estatlishmenr, a
tom which hey thought IT, r. mif
he danger of IRE The company,
wall az himselt, had u.ed every prec'
tlon 10 make this building safe II Cvi
respect, and If Mr.. simpson had s.
geBJed 10 him that the wall ehould,
he safe, be 10 Instead of 8 inches thi'
h had not heard him, and thought
must have been made in a casual nj
ner. The bulldir G was for the pufp
of Containing expensive machinery
an improved proeeEs OF maj uiRctuE
iron. At this point Mr.. Lore az
'what was the value of that
chinery?' to which Mr.. Bird otjec
and upon the objection being sustai
by the court the counsel for the Ge
dants asked that their exceptionssE 81,
be noted.
Mr.. Lore then read the contracts
tered into between the Diamond s
Iron Com pany ard Frank Il Siml
for the brick work, aud William
Foulk for the wood work, and sal
would offer them in evidence.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Dir
said that he was large stochhodt
the Diamond State Iron Company,
that ct least one-half of the stoc
that company is held by the officer
at ths time the building fell he
not in this city, having gone ava
June. The witness did rot dra "
plans for this building, but merely
suited with Mr.. Davis Ia reieIen'
them. Mr.. Davis is practical .pa'
mic, and has Lad considerable ex
ence in erecting buildings for the
rose for which this was intended.
con psny furnished the bricks, v
were the best that could be obts
but he thought Mr.. Simpson turn!
the sand.
Frank e. Simpson was recalled,
testified that the wall was pert
p,umb when he left 1t. and tbs
material used In 1t was frst.t 10
every respect.
William II. Foulk was recalled
afer examining the plans explain
the jury how tho roof was bracet
fastened in position, and also
precautions he had adopted TO
vent any lateral pressure. He
said that there vera inch q
half bolts in the pias.ers ard thu
inch wall. The witness was p
when the trusses were hoisted in
ton by the riggsrs and there WI
more vibration OF the walls than
is 10 any first. class building.
On cross examiI alton the v
said that IL The wall had blckled
time 1t would have fe len. 1t Is n
unusual TO have iron rods built
lasters aud walls, The girders
fastened TO the pilasters, and h
effect of making the wall steat
preventing it's bucklirg.
Seth n. Feas ,er was sworn, and